Page 80 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Summer 2014

Table 2 Cont. It appears that to make up for the missing echelons of
care and evacuation the Rangers possessed additional
Type Unit Quantity Set
equipment. It also seems likely that the Rangers were
Calamine concentrate Bottle 2 #9776700 expected to operate so far forward of friendly units that
Amyl nitrate, Package 4 #9776700 any higher echelon of medical treatment might not be
10 ampules readily available. With this in mind, the Rangers de-
Amyl nitrate, Package 1 #9776400 pended on their own equipment for immediate trauma
10 ampules management. An example of this was the forward aid
BAL ointment, 2, Set 1 #9776400 station established at Plateros with Dr. Layug during the
¼oz tubes Cabanatuan raid. This forward receiving station was es-
Calamine lotion, Bottle 1 #9776400 tablished to provide enough forward surgical treatment
approximately 2oz to keep casualties alive until they could be returned be
Chloroform, Bottle 1 #9776400 evacuated to a field hospital.
approximately 2oz
Historically, three main classes of disease and non-
Copper sulfate
solution, Set 1 #9776400 battle injury (DNBI) have plagued soldiers in combat
approximately in tropical environments: dermatologic disorders, gas-
2oz bottle trointestinal disorders, and febrile disorders (the bulk
18
Eye and nose drops, Package 1 #9776400 being febrile respiratory disorders and malaria). The
½oz drugs carried by the Ranger medical detachment were
Eye solution, BAL, Package 1 #9776400 only adequate for minor medical conditions, and this
½oz may have been problematic for the Rangers due to
Protective ointment, Tube 1 #9776400 their operations away from supporting medical units.
CWS, 3oz The variety of ointments of the time (ammoniated mer-
Ammonia, aromatic, Package 1 #9777300 curic, boric acid, and sulfur) used as topical antimicro-
10 ampules bials to treat or control infectious skin disorders was
Burn injury set, boric Set 2 #9777300 appropriate for the tropical environment in which the
acid ointment Rangers were operating. Soldiers in the Philippines
Iodine swab, Package 1 #9777300 were treated for a number of skin diseases as a result
19,20
10 min, 10 of fighting in hot and wet environments. The medi-
cal kits had very limited treatments for gastrointestinal
disorders, primarily just laxatives (magnesium sulfate,
expected, due to the amount of equipment associated aloin compound). This would have obviously been of
with the medical detachment, adjustments were made in little benefit to Rangers struggling with diarrheal illness
the planning stages of operations so that only essential or dysentery. Copper sulfate solution would likely have
portable medical equipment was carried during combat been used as an emetic in a manner similar to syrup
operations. This adaptation of supplies for specific op- of ipecac. Little was available for the treatment of fe-
erations is shown during the invasion of the Philippines, brile disorders, the predominant form of this attacking
as well as during the planning phases of the Cabanatuan troops being acute respiratory infections and malaria.
18
raid. In operations orders for the Philippines landing, Antimalarials were available, but for nonmalarial fe-
the medical detachment was given a cargo allotment on ver, medics had only the option of using aspirin deriva-
the landing craft of five medical packs and two medical tives to reduce fevers. The presence of sulfa drugs is
chests. In the planning phases for the Cabanatuan raid, typical of medicine in the early 1940s. Sulfa drugs,
8
21
Dr. Fisher created specialized medical packs for aidmen in various forms, were used prior to and after surgery
to carry during the mission since the Rangers were trav- to help prevent and treat infections that might occur in
eling primarily on foot. 6 the wound. Soldiers were also taught to immediately
sprinkle sulfanilamide powder over open wounds to
Knowing the nature of the Rangers’ operations, and its help prevent the spread of infection. 16,22 Various pain
nature as an independent command under the 6th Army, treatments were also found in the battalion’s drug list-
it is easy to understand why this unit needed additional ing. Company aid men relieved the pain of wounded
medical equipment. Since the unit operated indepen- soldiers with morphine in injectable styrettes. Bulk
10
dently, it had no regimental echelon collection company quantities of morphine and codeine were available for
or clearing company to help with the treatment or evac- use at the aid station. A variety of aspirin derivatives
uation of wounded personnel. Thus, the Rangers gen- (amyl salicylate, acetylsalicylic acid) were available for
16
erally evacuated directly to the nearest field hospital. the treatment of minor pain.
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70 Journal of Special Operations Medicine Volume 14, Edition 2/Summer 2014